The writers, who had time to watch Friday night as Virginia upset then-#8 FSU in two OTs, voted the ‘Hoos into the AP Top 25, at 24th, on Sunday.
The ranking is the first for the UVA Football program since 2019, and the first in the tenure of fourth-year head coach Tony Elliott.
Amazing what $35 million will buy you these days, ain’t it?
The coaches poll, voted on by SIDs who don’t watch a lot of football, other than their own teams, left us out.
There’s no value to any of it anyway.
Next up: Louisville
Louisville (4-0, 1-0 ACC) is not yet ranked. Virginia (4-1, 2-0 ACC) heads out west to face the Cardinals on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN2.
Louisville beat Pitt, 34-27, on Saturday, rallying from an early 17-0 deficit, aided by five Pitt turnovers.
The ESPN Football Power Index sees UVA and Louisville as basically equals – the ‘Hoos are 34th nationally in the FPI; Louisville is 35th.
The one line that I’ve found on this Sunday evening has Louisville as a seven-point favorite, with a 61.5-point over/under, suggesting a score in the range of Louisville 34, Virginia 27.
That seems a bit high to me, given their statistical similarities.
UVA Football: By the numbers
- Total offense: fifth (539.6 yards/g)
- First downs: sixth (133)
- Scoring: eighth (45.6 points/g)
- The run game: 12th (243.4 yards/g)
- Third-down conversions-offense: 10th (57.0 percent)
- Third-down conversions-defense: 13th (25.4 percent)
UVA Football: What the algorithms say
The ESPN FPI projects Virginia with a 9.2-3.2 finish, with a 99.9 percent chance to get six wins, a 14.1 percent chance to win the ACC, and an 11.4 percent chance to get a CFP berth.
That 14.1 percent chance to win the ACC ranks second in the FPI (Miami: 54.0 percent).
The playoff odds are third (Miami: 67.5 percent, FSU: 11.5 percent).
The remaining schedule ranks 15th among the 17 ACC Football schools.
They’re trying
We had 50,107 in Scott Stadium Friday night, the first 50,000-plus home game since the 2019 Virginia Tech season finale.
I’m always on the folks at UVA Athletics for not trying harder to get butts in seats.
They’re trying.
This is from the email announcing the Top 25 ranking from earlier today:
To ring in UVA Football’s return to the top-25 rankings, Virginia Athletics has announced a 25% off flash sale on single-game tickets for the Cavaliers’ upcoming home contests against Washington State (Oct. 18) and Wake Forest (Nov. 8). Tickets start at $22.50. Fans can also secure two lower-level tickets for just $75 total.
Discounted group packages, premium seating, and fan experiences are also available for purchase at UVAtix.com.
ICYMI: UVA vs. Florida State
- UVA vs. Florida State | Live Coverage: ‘Hoos shock #8 FSU in two OTs, 46-38
- UVA Football | ‘Hoos outlast #8 Florida State in double-OT instant classic
- ‘Hoos 46, #8 FSU 38 | That may be the prettiest ugly game we’ve ever seen
- UVA Football: Five Observations | Still trying to digest the upset of #8 FSU
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Chris Graham
